By Roxanne ReidOnce the spring flower season on the Cape’s West Coast starts to warm up, it’s time to think of visiting the Postberg Nature Reserve for a riot of colour and wonderful sea views. Here are some photos of spring flowers at Postberg to inspire you to make this the year you see them for yourself.

The Postberg Nature Reserve lies in the West Coast National Park near Langebaan, about an hour and a half’s drive from Cape Town. Closed for most of the year, the reserve opens to the public only in August and September when the spring flowers are at their beautiful best.

Clouds can ruin your flower experience, but even they are beautiful in their way

The day we visited started slowly, with cloud cover that kept most of the flowers closed. But by 11am the sun was out, the sky blue and the Strandveld spilling over with colour from white and yellow to orange, pink, purple and mauve, like threads in a tapestry.

White rain daisy (Dimorphotheca pluvialis)

It was an added bonus to see birds, tortoises, and a herd of eland grazing and relaxing in a field of yellow and pink flowers against a backdrop of blue-blue sea. If we hadn’t been so focused on the flowers, perhaps we might even have spotted a passing whale or pod of dolphins, which also occur in the Atlantic Ocean off Postberg.

2. Every year in mid September SA National Parks Week gives all SA citizens free entry into its national parks around the country, including West Coast National Park. It’s a great chance for those who otherwise can’t afford to see the spring flowers, but if you hate crowds you might want to avoid that week. Remember too that your Wild Card will also get you free entry on other days.

Sand roads, sea views and a multitude of colourful flowers make Postberg special

An expansive carpet of flowers dwarfs these eland, South Africa's largest antelope

3. If you can, go during the week to avoid the weekend crowds that flock to enjoy the spring spectacle at Postberg.4.Be warned that if you enter through the park's main gate on the R27 there may be a long queue on busy days and weekends. To avoid a queue, rather go to Langebaan and use the entrance gate there, where the queue is always shorter.

Hongerblom (Senecio arenarius)

Sporrie (Heliophila coronopifolia) is the only blue flower in the West Coast National Park

5. The best time for seeing the flowers is on a sunny day between about 11:00 and 15:00. On rainy or cloudy days most of the flowers won’t open so the display will be disappointing.

6. While you enjoy the flowers, look out for animals like wildebeest, eland, springbok, Cape grysbok, mountain zebra, bontebok, Cape fox and African wild cat, as well as birds and tortoises. You may even get a chance to do some whale watching.

7. You’re allowed to get out of your car to look more closely at the flowers or photograph them, but you're not allowed to walk off the road into the fields to trample them. And whatever you do, DO NOT pick them!

8. Note that the timing of the flowers depends on whether the rains are early or late. To find out when is the best time for visiting Postberg phone the Flower Hotline on 072-9388186 or contact West Coast Tourism, tel 022-4338505 or www.capewestcoast.org.

Angulate tortoise

Gousblom (Arctotis hirsuta)

﻿9.﻿Postberg is open from 9:00 to 17:00 daily in August and September, with the last entry being allowed at 16:30 (but be aware that 30 minutes is waa-a-ay too short for a proper visit!). The greater West Coast National Park gates are open from 7:00 till 18:00.

10. Picnic only at the designated spots; if you try to spread your picnic blanket among the flowers someone will find you, make you move and slap you with a fine for breaking the rules too.

Ruth, I checked with the Section Ranger at Postberg and she said: "Those are not Qwaggas but Cape Mountain Zebra. And there are definitely not donkeys in the National Park. What she might have mistaken for donkeys must have also been the zebra. Because of the type of nutrients in the soil, the white stripes on the zebra in our park can at times appear more brown and I can understand that from a distance it could be confusing."

Hope that answers your questions!

ayne

15/9/2017 04:25:04 pm

Just did the walk in Postberg, flowers are not starting to finish, but still lots to see. Are there any places/books that can identify flowers specific to Postberg.I have all the usual books but am having problems!

Reply

Roxanne

15/9/2017 04:38:57 pm

Gosh, Ayne, I really don't know. Why not google the park for a telephone number and ask to speak to Postberg's section ranger, Ms Gagiano. She may know of more specific books to help you. Good luck.

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I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.Since 2015, travel buddy and husband Keith has been the primary photographer for this blog.We're happiest in the middle of nowhere, meeting the locals, trying something new, or simply watching the grass grow.In this blog you can discover new places to go, revisit places you've loved, or take a virtual tour of destinations you only dream about.

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